Posts by Gordy

however you are expected to have a supper now and then after having food droped then ground into the carpet a few times i called it quites on the suppers although i'd invite some for beers after.

one bookstdy conducter announced there was going to be a supper next bookstudy so i announced no there wasen't he spoke to me after something about unwritten rules i said '' the phraseas call it oral trditions"

Gordy

We did for probably getting on for 20 years.

Then after what happened with me, and I had "left" home. They moved it for a while.

Then they brought back which probably pleased my wife, would mean she was in "good standing"

But from what I last heard numbers have dropped from about the 20-25 we had when I was there.

Down to just 8-10.

31

"attempted suicide"... meaning..?

by Gregor in

i see this expression being used frequently and i think it would be helpful to parse the possible meaning by the person using it.

because it has such a huge range of possible impressions that could be taken by the reader.

just to illustrate, i will place myself in the #1 category below of person who might use the expression "attempted suicide".. a.

Gordy

Mine is "C" in 1996.

Tried but survived.

Sectioned, spent 6 weeks in psychiatric hospital, had ECT treatment, then put on anti-depressants.

49

How Were You Treated as a Jehovah's Witness if You Had Depression ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

most of us who were in the jehovah's witnesses for some time realize that for years the watchtower society had always discouraged it's rank and file members from going to see therapists, or professional counselors if they had depression, or serious chemical depression.

the watchtower society always told us to go out in service more, do more personal study, be more regular at meetings - and essentially we would lose our depression , and everything would fall right back into place.

the old, " don't worry, be happy " cliche.

Gordy

In ten years ago I was diagnosed as having "acute clinical depression" after a suicide attempt. Without going into a long story, the circumstances were a mix of personal problems and pressures of being a JW with doubts. At the time I was a Min Servant, married with children. At that time I had been a JW for 25 years.

I spent 6 weeks in a psychiatric hospital. In that time not one Elder came to see me. Even when one of them brought my wife, he would just drop her off and wait in his car.

Two weeks after I got home they decided that I needed to appear before a Judicial Committee. I was "privately reproved" removed as a Min Servant, not allowed to participate in meetings, or say prayers at any meeting. Their whole answer to helping was, attend meetings go out on field service. No understanding that a person with depression usually does not want to be around other people and much less be calling on strangers to talk to.

Other JWs who Ihad known for 25 years stopped talking to me, or even coming to visit me. Even ones we regularly had round to our house for meals. The Book group was eventually moved from our house. My wife was more upset about her "standing" in the congregation, than what was happening to me and the children through it all.

Then one day, six months on, my wife said I would have to move out for the sake of the family!! The first time she went out with two of the children and expected me to be gone by the time she came back. As I had no money and no were to go what did she expect me to do? She nearly came back to find me hanging from the stairs landing. If she hadn't had the two children with her sh might have done so.

Two weeks later she says she has found me a place to live, in the next town, even paid the deposit. In the next town so I had to go to a different congregation. The Elders in that congregation couldn't care less about giving any support. In the three years before I left I did not receive one visit from an Elder.

Incidently a few months later I learnt, from inside sources, that the reason my wife had me move out was that the Elders had said I was a "spiritual danger" to the family so had to be got out.

After 25 years in "Jehovah's loving organisation" all this came as a shock. Were was the love and support for me, and my family?

To cut the story short this eventually led me to start looking into the Watchtowers history and teachings. After nearly three years research I stopped attending meetings. Though did not disassociate at the time, because I had still had contact with children who were baptised JWs.

During the next two years I received no call or visit from any Elder, not even a Memorial invite pushed through the letter box.

Then in September 2001 two Elders visited but I was out my oldest son, now living with me, spoke to them. Now why after two years did they visit? It turned out to be a campaign to get "inactive ones" back because numbers were dropping. Well that did it if all they thought of me was to make numbers up and they couldn't be bothered to visit during the previous two years then they can go to Hell. Considering three Elders lived within a 5-10 minute walk from me. The Kingdom Hall is just up the road also.

I wrote a letter of disassociation, enclosed some information on why and poisted it through an Elders door.

This of course meant no JW could speak etc to me. This included my wife and two daughters who I have not spoked to or had contact with for the last 7 years. Except for a brief "Hello" from my wife when my oldest son was in hospital and we ran into each other in the waiting room.

Two other children son and daughter who were baptised also disassociated. Three other children never became JWs because of what had happened (yes I had 7 children).

So in not giving me and my family any love and support they lost 6 potential JWs.

I have often said if they had said "We'll get you on your feet. Give you the time and support you need" Then I could probably still be a JW.

But as it is I became a Christian and do my best to inform others about the Watchtower and its ways.

28

IF gas prices go to $10, and these major disasters continue......

by AK - Jeff in

jw
friends

....like the one in myanmar now, will we not see the apocalyptic religions just explode in growth, including jw's?

even during relatively calm times, these groups can stir the 'sheep' to believe that the tribulation is just around the corner.

if we continue to see major disasters, what effect do you see in these groups?.

Gordy

Understood Jeff

But out of 30 -OECD countries the USA still comes 29th in price for petrol. Whereas the UK is 5th paying about 70% more per litre than USA.

But if we remove the taxation on the price for all 30 countries the price is basically the same , give or take a couple of cents. .

It is the tax placed on petrol that makes the difference overall.

Roughly in UK for every $10 we pay for a gallon - $8 is tax.

11

HOW MANY CHILDREN WERE THERE IN YOUR CONGREGATION?

by badboy in

jw
friends

any takers?

Gordy

Going back to 1996 which is the last time I attended at meeting in my old congregation.

I would say at least 30+ - 0f which 7 were mine.

I would say going from what I have heard I would say about up to two-thirds have never become JWs or have left.

43

KISS-OFF letter to me from an old JW friend I recently saw again

by Terry in

jw
friends

i thought i'd start a different thread for this from the funeral experience where i saw this jw again after 30+ years.. after her first e-mail to me i wrote her back and answered direct questions she'd asked me.

i didn't push any agenda.. here is her kiss-off:.

first my apologies for how long my reply has taken.

Gordy

Be honest (as I know you are), what kind of help does anybody get from their brothers and sisters at the Kingdom Hall when they have a real problem? All they get is "marked" as spiritually sick. They get lectured with scriptures and they get picked up and taken out in field service to jump start their holy spirit motor!! They don't really care about you as a real, live, hurting person. As soon as you stumble and fall or stray off like that lost sheep---instead of leaving the 99 healthy ones and going after you and carrying you back in their arms to the fold---they disfellowship you, stop praying for you and actually long for your destruction! That's my view of the "love between themselves". Am I delusional?

I can certainly related to that portion.

Suffering from clinical depression and suicidal. What was the Elders answer -attend meetings and go on field service.

They even had my wife get me out the family home because I was a "spiritual danger" to the family.

I've often said that if they had said "We'll help you get through this. Support you and family through this. Tilll you are strong again"

I could probably still be a JW. But no, it was lets get rid of him.

I have often used the parable of the "Good Shepherd", how he went out to rescue the one leaving the 99. The JW attitude is "Got lost, have you, serves you right. We're not coming to look for you, find your own way back."

That attitude above all, is what made me start to look more closely at them.

Anyway it back-fired on them out of 9 members of my family only 3 are still JW's.

28

IF gas prices go to $10, and these major disasters continue......

by AK - Jeff in

jw
friends

....like the one in myanmar now, will we not see the apocalyptic religions just explode in growth, including jw's?

even during relatively calm times, these groups can stir the 'sheep' to believe that the tribulation is just around the corner.

if we continue to see major disasters, what effect do you see in these groups?.

Gordy

What do you mean IF gas prices go to $10 ....... Here in UK we nearly paying that now.

You Americans are paying for a Gallon, near enough what we pay for a Litre.

And you think you are hard done by

32

Latest Witness comments about no more Bookstudy- Rejoicing and happy????

by Witness 007 in

i've asked afew witnesses at work and around town about no more bookstudy.........they are all so relieved!

one elder with four kids said..."it will make things alot easier, with rushing home from work, the society understands our needs.

"......another brother said: "it's great, now we can go to the cinema on half price tuesday's!

Gordy

I received an e-mail from a fading JW (used to be an Elder). They were having a vist from the CO also at the time. In speaking to him the CO said that the reason for the change in meetings, was that after the child abuse cases they settled. It was found that the WT could be held responsible for anything that happens in a home were a WT authorised meeting is held.

Whether that COs view is true or not who can say. The JWs have a knack of making up reasons why something happens.